For only the second time this season, Andover came out on the losing end of a game. Roseville edged the Huskies 57-43 in the championship game of its holiday tournament Dec. 30.

Roseville jumped to a five-point lead at the break and outscored Andover 31-22 in the second half. Raiders’ Monica Burich had a game-high 22 points. Andover countered with a diverse offense with eight scorers led by Maddie Hahn’s 11 points and two steals. Post Haydn Becker had seven rebounds and six points, while guard Amelia Leger had seven points and three steals.

Anoka

The Tornadoes returned to Northwest Suburban Conference competition with a 64-49 win at Champlin Park Jan. 3.

Anoka’s offense unselfishly dished out 22 assists on 23-of-49 shooting from the field. Senior post Jordan Meyer didn’t score a basket, but helped Anoka in every other facet of the game by blocking five shots, grabbing seven rebounds and adding three assists and two steals.

Blaine

Fifteen days between games gave the Bengals plenty of time to regroup before the second half of the season, despite finishing and beginning the break with losses. A loss to Andover Dec. 19 was followed by a 66-54 loss at Park Center Jan. 3 only to return home Jan. 4 to beat section foe Cambridge-Isanti, 61-55.

Blaine junior post Sha’Ron Miller, right, scored 23 points to lead the Bengals to a 61-55 win over Cambridge-Isanti Jan. 4. The Bluejackets cut a 14-point deficit to four points with 4:53 left before Miller scored six points to help the Bengals hold on.Photo by Bill Jones

Blaine led Cambridge by as many as 14 points before the lead shrank to four points with 4:53 left. Bengals junior post Sha’Ron Miller scored a game-high 23 points, six coming down the stretch to preserve the lead and help Blaine improve to 3-5 overall and 1-1 in 2014.

Blaine senior guard Alex Howe helped the home team take a 37-25 halftime lead with 12 points.

Coon Rapids

Coon Rapids’ search for a third win reached into 2014 after back-to-back losses to Robbinsdale Armstrong (85-66) and Mahtomedi (53-47) Jan. 3-4, respectively. The losses extended the Cardinals losing streak to seven games.

Spring Lake Park

What better way to start 2014 for Spring Lake Park than snapping an 0-9 start with a 55-44 win over Big Lake Jan. 3.

The 55 points was the third time the Panthers topped the 50-point mark and gave the hometown fans something to cheer about. J. Murphy led the Panthers with a game high 23 points, while Brianna Hatinen and Aamira Reed each had 11 points.

Blaine improved to 3-5 and 1-1 in 2014 in a 61-55 win over Cambridge-Isanti Jan. 4. Bengals senior Amanda Schwengler goes up for a lay-up in the second half.Photo by Bill Jones